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Chavez Dreamed of Playing in Yankee Stadium

Venezuelan talks of favorite American things, rips 'assassin' Bush

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 25, 2009 8:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – Hugo Chavez is fond of Americans and their culture even if their last president did try to have him killed, he told Larry King yesterday. The usually pugnacious Venezuelan president said he used to dream of playing baseball in Yankee Stadium and is a big fan of Walt Whitman and actor Charles Bronson. He finds his New York security detail "very gracious, very efficient, very kind." His affection does not extend to former President Bush, however, who he said ordered his assassination during a short-lived 2002 coup.

"The Bush government toppled me," Chavez said. "They asked for my assassination." Chavez spoke of his strong Christian faith and his fears the US might still try to force him from power. "I'm a man with many defects," he conceded, but added later: I'm a Christian. I want the world of justice and equality."

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Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds a news conference after addressing the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters yesterday. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addresses the 64th session of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters yesterday. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

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Venezuelan President Huge Chavez tells Larry King that George W. Bush ordered an assassination attempt on him. (CNN Video)

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Most governments in the United States in a hundred years have not respected the peoples of Latin America. They have sponsored coup d'etats, assassinations. It's enough. We want to be brothers and sisters.
- Hugo Chavez

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Chavez Dreamed of Playing in Yankee Stadium